The effects of growth conditions on cell wall composition and cell morphology in a temperature-sensitive tag-B mutant of Bacillus subtilis

The relationship between wall anionic polymer synthesis and cell morphology has been studied in Bacillus subtilis 168 and its temperature-sensitive tagB mutant strain BR19-200B. The amount and type of anionic polymer synthesized varied under different growth conditions, as did the morphology of the bacteria. Anionic polymer synthesis was affected by the phosphate supply. It was also found that teichuronic acid synthesis was temperature-sensitive in wild-type bacteria. Teichuronic acid synthesis was affected by the tagB lesion, previously thought to affect only teichoic acid synthesis. A relationship was observed between synthesis of the alternative polymers, such that suppression of teichuronic acid synthesis is accompanied by an increase in the synthesis of teichoic acid. Variation in anionic polymer content was accompanied by variation in cell shape. Differences in shape were related to differences in total anionic polymer rather than to differences in individual polymer type.